the brotherhood of consolation-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


which　a　wrinkle　is　impossible。

〃White　and　plump！〃　he　said　to　himself；　as　he　walked　away；　〃but　her
hair　is　white；　too。〃

Godefroid；　like　all　weak　natures；　took　readily　to　a　new　life；
believing　it　satisfactory；　and　he　was　now　quite　eager　to　take　up　his
abode　in　the　rue　Chanoinesse。　Nevertheless；　a　prudent　thought；　or；　if
you　prefer　to　say　so；　a　distrustful　thought；　occurred　to　him。　Two　days
before　his　installation；　he　went　again　to　see　Monsieur　Mongenod　to
obtain　some　more　definite　information　about　the　house　he　was　to　enter。

During　the　few　moments　he　had　spent　in　his　future　lodgings　overlooking
the　changes　that　were　being　made　in　them；　he　had　noticed　the　coming
and　going　of　several　persons　whose　appearance　and　behavior；　without
being　exactly　mysterious；　excited　a　belief　that　some　secret　occupation
or　profession　was　being　carried　on　in　that　house。　At　that　particular
period　there　was　much　talk　of　attempts　by　the　elder　branch　of　the
Bourbons　to　recover　the　throne；　and　Godefroid　suspected　some
conspiracy。　When　he　found　himself　in　the　banker's　counting…room　held
by　the　scrutinizing　eye　of　Frederic　Mongenod　while　he　made　his
inquiry；　he　felt　ashamed　as　he　saw　a　derisive　smile　on　the　lips　of　the
listener。

〃Madame　la　Baronne　de　la　Chanterie；〃　replied　the　banker；　〃is　one　of
the　most　obscure　persons　in　Paris；　but　she　is　also　one　of　the　most
honorable。　Have　you　any　object　in　asking　for　information？〃

Godefroid　retreated　into　generalities：　he　was　going　to　live　among
strangers；　he　naturally　wished　to　know　something　of　those　with　whom　he
should　be　intimately　thrown。　But　the　banker's　smile　became　more　and
more　sarcastic；　and　Godefroid；　more　and　more　embarrassed；　was　ashamed
of　the　step　he　had　taken；　and　which　bore　no　fruit；　for　he　dared　not
continue　his　questions　about　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　and　her　inmates。



IV

FAREWELL　TO　THE　LIFE　OF　THE　WORLD

Two　days　later；　of　a　Monday　evening；　having　dined　for　the　last　time　at
the　Cafe　Anglais；　and　seen　the　two　first　pieces　at　the　Varietes；　he
went；　at　ten　o'clock；　to　sleep　for　the　first　time　in　the　rue
Chanoinesse；　where　Manon　conducted　him　to　his　room。

Solitude　has　charms　comparable　only　to　those　of　savage　life；　which　no
European　has　ever　really　abandoned　after　once　tasting　them。　This　may
seem　strange　at　an　epoch　when　every　one　lives　so　much　to　be　seen　of
others　that　all　the　world　concern　themselves　in　their　neighbors'
affairs；　and　when　private　life　will　soon　be　a　thing　of　the　past；　so
bold　and　so　intrusive　are　the　eyes　of　the　press；that　modern　Argus。
Nevertheless；　it　is　a　truth　which　rests　on　the　authority　of　the　first
six　Christian　centuries；　during　which　no　recluse　ever　returned　to
social　life。　Few　are　the　moral　wounds　that　solitude　will　not　heal。

So；　at　first；　Godefroid　was　soothed　by　the　deep　peace　and　absolute
stillness　of　his　new　abode；　as　a　weary　traveller　is　relaxed　by　a　bath。

The　very　day　after　his　arrival　at　Madame　de　la　Chanterie's　he　was
forced　to　examine　himself；　under　the　sense　that　he　was　separated　from
all；　even　from　Paris；　though　he　still　lived　in　the　shadow　of　its
cathedral。　Stripped　of　his　social　vanities；　he　was　about　to　have　no
other　witnesses　of　his　acts　than　his　own　conscience　and　the　inmates　of
that　house。　He　had　quitted　the　great　high…road　of　the　world　to　enter
an　unknown　path。　Where　was　that　path　to　lead　him　to？　to　what
occupation　should　he　now　be　drawn？

He　had　been　for　two　hours　absorbed　in　such　reflections　when　Manon；　the
only　servant　of　the　house；　knocked　at　his　door　to　tell　him　that　the
second　breakfast　was　served　and　the　family　were　waiting　for　him。
Twelve　o'clock　was　striking。　The　new　lodger　went　down　at　once；　stirred
by　a　wish　to　see　and　judge　the　five　persons　among　whom　his　life　was　in
future　to　be　spent。

When　he　entered　the　room　he　found　all　the　inmates　of　the　house
standing；　they　were　dressed　precisely　as　they　were　on　the　day　when　he
came　to　make　his　first　inquiries。

〃Did　you　sleep　well？〃　asked　Madame　de　la　Chanterie。

〃So　well　that　I　did　not　wake　up　till　ten　o'clock；〃　replied　Godefroid；
bowing　to　the　four　men；　who　returned　the　bow　with　gravity。

〃We　thought　so；〃　said　an　old　man　named　Alain；　smiling。

〃Manon　spoke　of　a　second　breakfast；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃but　I　fear　that
I　have　already　broken　some　rule。　At　what　hour　do　you　rise？〃

〃Not　quite　so　early　as　the　old　monks；〃　said　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；
courteously；　〃but　as　early　as　the　working…men；six　in　winter；　half…
past　three　in　summer。　Our　bed…time　is　ruled　by　that　of　the　sun。　We　are
always　asleep　by　nine　in　winter　and　eleven　in　summer。　On　rising；　we
all　take　a　little　milk；　which　comes　from　our　farm；　after　saying　our
prayers；　except　the　Abbe　de　Veze；　who　says　the　first　mass；　at　six
o'clock　in　summer　and　seven　o'clock　in　winter；　at　Notre…Dame；　where
these　gentlemen　are　present　daily；　as　well　as　your　humble　servant。〃

Madame　de　la　Chanterie　ended　her　explanation　as　the　five　lodgers　took
their　seats　at　table。

The　dining…room；　painted　throughout　in　gray；　the　design　of　the
woodwork　being　in　the　style　of　Louis　XIV。；　adjoined　the　sort　of
antechamber　in　which　Manon　was　usually　stationed；　and　it　seemed　to　be
parallel　with　Madame　de　la　Chanterie's　bedroom；　which　also　opened　into
the　salon。　This　room　had　no　other　ornament　than　a　tall　clock。　The
furniture　consisted　of　six　chairs　with　oval　backs　covered　with
worsted…work；　done　probably　by　Madame　de　la　Chanterie's　own　hand；　two
buffets　and　a　table；　all　of　Mahogany；　on　which　Manon　did　not　lay　a
cloth　for　breakfast。　The　breakfast；　of　monastic　frugality；　was
composed　of　a　small　turbot　with　a　white　sauce；　potatoes；　a　salad；　and
four　dishes　of　fruit；peaches；　grapes；　strawberries；　and　fresh
almonds；　also；　for　relishes；　honey　in　the　comb　（as　in　Switzerland）；
radishes；　cucumbers；　sardines；　and　butter；the　whole　served　in　the
well…known　china　with　tiny　blue　flowers　and　green　leaves　on　a　white
ground；　which　was　no　doubt　a　luxury　in　the　days　of　Louis　XIV。；　but　had
now；　under　the　growing　demands　of　luxury；　come　to　be　regarded　as
common。

〃We　keep　the　fasts；〃　said　Monsieur　Alain。　〃As　we　go　to　mass　every
morning；　you　will　not　be　surprised　to　find　us　blindly　following　all
the　customs　of　the　Church；　even　the　severest。〃

〃And　you　shall　begin　by　imitating　us；〃　said　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；
with　a　glance　at　Godefroid；　whom　she　had　placed　beside　her。

Of　the　five　persons　present　Godefroid　knew　the　names　of　three；Madame
de　la　Chanterie；　the　Abbe　de　Veze；　and　Monsieur　Alain。　He　wished　to
know　those　of　the　other　two；　but　they　kept　silence　and　ate　their　food
with　the　attention　which　recluses　appear　to　give　to　every　detail　of　a
meal。

〃Does　this　fine　fruit　come　also　from　your　farm；　madame？〃　asked
Godefroid。

〃Yes；　monsieur；〃　she　replied。　〃We　have　a　little　model　farm；　like　the
government　itself；　we　call　it　our　country　house；　it　is　twelve　miles
from　here；　on　the　road　to　Italy；　near　Villeneuve…Saint…Georges。〃

〃It　is　a　property　that　belongs　to　us　all；　and　is　to　go　to　the
survivor；〃　said　the　goodman　Alain。

〃Oh；　it　is　not　very　considerable！〃　added　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；
rather　hastily；　as　if　she　feared　that　Godefroid　might　think　these
remarks　a　bait。

〃There　are　thirty　acres　of　tilled　land；〃　said　one　of　the　two
personages　still　unknown　to　Godefroid；　〃six　of　meadow；　and　an
enclosure　containing　four　acres；　in　which　our　house；　which　adjoins　the
farmhouse；　stands。〃

〃But　such　a　property　as　that；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃must　be　worth　a
hundred　thousand　francs。〃

〃Oh；　we　don't　get　anything　out　of　it　but　our　provisions！〃　said　the
same　personage。

He　was　a　tall；　grave；　spare　man；　with　all　the　appearance　of　having
served　in　the　army。　His　white　hair　showed　him　to　be　past　sixty；　and
his　face　betrayed　some　violent　grief　controlled　by　religion。

The　second　unnamed　person；　who　seemed　to　be　something　between　a　master
of　rhetoric　and　a　business　agent；　was　of　ordinary　height；　plump；　but
active　withal。　His　face　had　the　jovial　expression　which　characterizes
those　of　lawyers　and　notaries　in　Paris。

The　dress　of　these　four　personages　revealed　a　neatness　due　to　the　most
scrupulous　personal　care。　The　same　hand；　and　it　was　that　of　Manon；
could　be　seen　in　every　detail。　Their　coats　were　perhaps　ten　years　old；
but　they　were　preserved；　like　the　coats　of　vicars；　by　the　occult　power
of　the　servant…woman；　and　the　constant　care　with　which　they　were　worn。
These　men　seemed　to　wear　on　their　backs　the　livery　of　a　system　of
life；　they　belonged　to　one　thought；　their　looks　said　the　same　word；
their　faces　breathed　a　gentle　resignation；　a　provoking　quietude。

〃Is　it　an　indiscretion；　madame；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃to　ask　the　names　of
these　gentlemen？　I　am　ready　to　explain　my　life；　can　I　know　as　much　of
theirs　as　custom　will　allow？〃

〃That　gentleman；〃　said　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　motioning　to　the　tall；
thin　man；　〃is　Monsieur　Nicolas；　he　is　a　colonel　of　gendarmerie；
retired　with　the　rank　of　brigadier…general。　And　this；〃　she　added；
looking　towards　the　stout　little　man；　〃is　a　former　councillor　of　the
royal　courts　of　Paris；　who　retired　from　the　magistracy　in　1830。　His
name　is　Monsieur　Joseph。　Though　you　have　only　been　with　us　one　day；　I
will　tell　you　that　in　the　world　Monsieur　Nicolas　once　bore　the　name　of
the　Marquis　de　Montauran；　and　Monsieur　Joseph　that　of　Lecamus；　Baron
de　Tresnes；　but　for　us；　as　for　the　world；　those　names　no　longer　exist。
These　gentlemen　are　without　heirs；　they　only　advance　by　a　little　the
oblivion　which　awaits　their　names；　they　are　simply　Monsieur　Nicolas
and　Monsieur　Joseph；　as　you　will　be　Monsieur　Godefroid。〃

As　he　heard　those　names；one　so　celebrated　in　the　annals　of　royalism
by　the　catastrophe　which　put　an　end　to　the　uprising　of　the　Chouans；
the　other　so　revered　in　the　halls　of　the　old　parliament　of　Paris；
Godefroid　could　not　repress　a　quiver。　He　looked　at　these　relics　of　the
grandest　things　of　the　fallen　monarchy；the　/noblesse/　and　the　law；
and　he　could　see　no　movement　of　the　features；　no　change　in　the
countenance；　that　revealed　the　presence　of　a　worldly　thought。　Those
men　no　longer　remembered；　or　did　not　choose　to　remember；　what　they　had
been。　This　was　Godefroid's　first　lesson。

〃Each　of　your　names；　gentlemen；　is　a　whole　history　in　itself；〃　he　said
respectfully。

〃Yes；　the　history　of　my　time；ruins；〃　replied　Monsieur　Joseph。

〃You　are　in　good　company；〃　said　Monsieur　Alain。

The　latter　can　be　described　in　a　word：　he　was　the　small　bourgeois　of
Paris；　the　worthy　middle…class　being　with　a　kindly　face；　relieved　by
pure　white　hair；　but　made　insipid　by　an　eternal　smile。

As　for　the　priest；　the　Abbe　de　Veze；　his　presence　said　all。　The　priest
who　fulfils　his　mission　is　known　by　the　first　glance　he　gives　you；　and
by　the　glance　that　others　who　know　him　give　to　him。

That　which　struck　Godefroid　most　forcibly　at　first　was　the　profound
respect　which　the　four　lodgers　manifested　for　Madame　de　la　Chanterie。
They　all　seemed；　even　the　priest；　in　spite　of　the　sacred　character　his
functions　gave　him；　to　regard　her　as　a　queen。　Godefroid　also　noticed
their　sobriety。　Each　seemed　to　eat　only　for　nourishment。　Madame　de　la
Chanterie　took；　as　did　the　rest；　a　single　peach　and　half　a　bunch　of
grapes；　but　she　told　her　new　lodger；　as　she　offered　him　the　vario